Match-lighter.



R. P. HART H. w. KIRKMAN. MATCH LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED PBB.19 1912.

1,105,1 39, Patented July 28,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l,

THE NORRIS PETERS CQ. PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON. D C.'

R. P. HART & T. W. KIRKMAN.

MATCH LIGHTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19,1912.

1,1 ()5, 1 39. Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wvtmowo: 5 mm nto z 7 I agizllauwfi HE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHQ.WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD P. HART AND THOMAS W. KIRKMAN, OF NEW'YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July28, 1914.

Application filed. February 19, 1912. Serial No. 673,709.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, RICHARD P. HART andTHOMAS W. KIRKMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at New Yorkcity,

. in the county of New York and State of will not be smothered by thegas from the.

match-head or from the burning stick.

Of the aecompanymg drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of amagazine matchlighter embodying our improvements. Fig. is a longitudmalsectlon thereof. Flg. 3

i is a view of the end at which the match to be struck is inserted. Fig.1 is a section on the line 4.1- of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection showing the position of parts after the match is ignited. Fig. 6is a detail perspective view of part of the striking and ventilatingmechanism. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 5, 2 and 3,showing a form of our invention having modified ventilating means. Fig.10 is a longitudinal section showing a third form with a modifiedstriking-mechanism. Fig. 11 is an end view, partly in section, of thisform. Fig. 12 is a section on the line 1212 of Fig. 10, with the doorclosed.

Referring at first to Figs. 1 to 6, mp

therein, said slide being open at its front end to receive the ordinarymatch-box 22 and having a projection 23 at its rear end to push theslide of the box slightly out of the cover when the box is fullyinserted, and thus expose a free lip of the box slide in a recess 2 1 atthe outer end of slide 21, thereby allowing the slide of the box to beeasily drawn in order to take out a match. Slide 21 has earsconstituting stops to limit its inward movement in the casing 20, andalso forming finger-holds for withdrawing the slide. T he slide andmatch-box constitute a 1 match magazine.

dicated at 26, 27 the two opposite openings 26 permitting the fingers tobe used to push the box 22 fully in or pull it out of the slide, and theintermediate opening 27 serv -1ng to expose the striking surface 28 onthe -match-box.

- The striking-mechanism includes aspring plate flexibly or hingedlyconnected atone end by its legs 30 to a removable plate 31 forming onewall of the casing '20, said plate 31'being retained in place by a wireloop 32, wire catches 33, anda mortise connection 34. Itis not, however,essential to an operative structure that the plate 31 shall :beremovable. At the free end of the spring plate 29 is a match-holdercomprising a .loop 35 and a U-shaped spring 36 to hold the stem of thematch 37 against said loop,

the U-shaped spring being outermost so that it tends to rock the matchon 35 as a fulcrum and throw thematchhead toward the wall-plate 31. Ahow spring 38 attached by its outer end to plate 31 engages a crossbar39 on plate 30 andtends to throw the free end of the latter toward themiddle of the casing and also assists in pressing the matchheadagalnstthe striking surface on thematclrbox when the slide 21 isbeing withdrawn. The cross-bar 39 acts as a stop to limit the insertingmovement of the match. the bow-spring 38 against the plate 31 when theslide is pushed clear in, thereby admitting the match-head against thestrikingsurface. Cam-projections 41 at the corners of the slide engagewith the legs 30 of spring-plate 29 and flatten the latter against theplate 31 when they slide is pushed in, and they also push back thespring 36 to readily admit them'atch between said spring and drawn. Inthis position of the parts, spring plate 29 forms a side ventilatingpassage {13 communicating through the opening 44 between said plate andthe bow-spring 38 with the middle combustion chamber 45. 45 is theopening for the cigar or cigarette. Another ventilating passage 46 isformed be tween the opposite wallofthe casing and a spring plate 47which rests against stops 48 g A cam-rib 40 on the slide flattens v whenthe slide is out, said passage communicating with the combustionchamberthrough an opening 49 in the plate 47 located opposite a recess 50 inthe casing wall 51 which affords free draft. A cam projection 52 onslide 21 flattens the plate 47 against casing wall 51 when the slide ispushed in.

41, 52 (Fig. 5) are stops on the casing, cooperating with the rear endsof the members 41 and 52 on the slide, to prevent the latter from beingentirely pulled out of the casing.

In operating this form of our invention, when the user desires to lighthis cigar or cigarette, he first draws the slide of the match-box totake out a match, replaces said slide, and inserts the match through theholder 35, 36 until its head rests loosely against the cross-bar 39,between spring 38 and the striking-surface 28 on the box, as indicatedin Fig. 2. Then the slide 21 is withdrawn and its initial movementretracts cam-rib 40 from spring 38, allowing the latter to press thematch-head against surface 28, so that the continued movement of theslide will ignite the match. As the slide reaches its outermostposition, the springplate 29 is released from the cam-projections 41 andflies out toward the middle of the casing, until the outer end of thematch-stem brings up against the cross-bar 42. Continuing to move for aslight distance, springplate 29, through the U-shaped spring 36, causesthe match torock 011 42 as a fulcrum and thus deflects its head towardthe mid die of the combustion-chamber 45 as indicated in Fig. 5, so thata cigar or cigarette held near or inserted through the opening 45 mayhave its end lighted by the flame. The device may be held in a somewhatmore upright position than shown in Fig. 5, for that purpose, but thematch will burn in practically any position of the lighter.

Casing 20 when slide 21 is withdrawn, forms an efiicient windshield forprotecting the match-flame. We have found it very difficult to soarrange a shield as to provide proper ventilation. Prior devices of thiskind which would avoid an accumulation of gases from the burningmatch-head, have allowed too free a draft and the match would blow outif exposed to a strong wind. e have solved this difiiculty by means ofour invention, in the particular forms of which here illustrated bothends of the draft passage are brought to the same end of the shield orcasing, and the latter is substantially closed at its opposite end. Thisdraft passage or these passages may be conveniently made by either orboth of the two hinged or spring plates 29, 47, and it is important thatsaid passages should revert on or lie substantially parallel to thecombus- (ion-chamber 45 as shown, although we do not confine ourinvention exclusively to this exact construction. These plates, asalready explained, spring inwardly when the slide 21 is withdrawn, andform the two side airpassages 43 and 46 between themselves and thecasing walls. These passages constitute inlets for the ventilatingcurrent, and the central passage whose mouth is the opening 45 forms anoutlet for the heated gases from the match. Even a strong wind blowingequally against both the passages 43, 46 and the opening 45 will notincrease the natural draft caused by these gases, and the match willtherefore not blow out, although it can easily be extinguished by theuser blowing through the opening 45 If the plate 47 were omittedhowever, there would still be sufficient ventilation from the oppositeside, and the presence of this plate therefore, while desirable, is notabsolutely essential. We may employ the plate 29 with any suitableshielding and ventilating arrangement. In case the match should notignite the first time, it may be automatically returned to its positionbetween the casing and slide by merely pushing the slide into thecasing, and if the outer end of its stem be then displaced laterallywithout removing the match from its holder 35, 36, this will bring thematch head onto a new part of the striking-surface 28. i

In the modification, Figs. 7 8 and 9, the construction and mode ofoperation of the casing, slide, striking mechanism and the striker sideof the ventilating means being substantially similar to the form shownin the preceding views, and similar parts being designated by the samereference characters, the description of said parts need not berepeated. Here however we add a shieldplate 53 opposite the positionoccupied by the head of the match when the slide has been withdrawn, thesaid plate having trunnions 54, 55 at its four corners, the formerrunning in guide-grooves 56 on the sides of the ventilating-plate 47,and the latter running in guide-slots 57 on the end of the slide 21. 49"are openings in the end wall of slide 21 which form part of theventilating passage from 46, through 49 and under the shield-plate 53 tothe combustion-chamber 45. 21 is a friction spring on slide 21 to retainthe match-box, and a similar device could be used in the form shown inFigs. 1 to 5. Plate 53 is located substantially opposite the position ofthe match-head when slide 51 is withdrawn, and its purpose is to preventthe gas due to the combustion of the match-head from entering thepassage 46 in any considerable quantity, displacing the air therefromand by its return tending to smother the flame. While this plate is notessential, since the match head can be located opposite a solid portionof the plate 47, or

the lighter held in such a position that one T of the side ventilatingpassages will be effective, we consider it a desirable feature, and

its use enables us to shorten the length of the combustion-chamben Theform represented in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 is similar in most respects tothat shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, but has a modified striking-mechanismwhich includes a door 58 (with opening 59 cooperating with a knife 60 onthe casing to form a cigar-cutter) hinged at'Gl to the casing and havinga flat spring 62 to press the head of the match against thestriking-surface on the matchbox, the slide 21 having a plate-63opposite this spring whensaid slide is pushed in. The holder engagingthe outer end of the matchste1n in this case is formed by a narrow flatspring 64 on the door 58, and an abutment 65 at the bottom of a notch 66on the casing. When the slide is drawn out to ignite the match, thespring 63 will rock the latter on 65 as a fulcrum and deflect its headtoward the middle of the combustionchamber. Thus the movement of theslide imparts a match-deflecting relative movement to the parts of thematch-holder, without however moving or deflecting said holder bodily asin the preceding views.

It will be understood that we have not attempted to show all of theforms in which the invention might be embodied.

We claim,'-

1. A matclrlighter composed of two mem bers mounted for relativemovement, one of said members having means for holding a match to bestruck, the other member having means for holding a box of matches withits striking-surface in position to draw across the head of the matchwhen relative movement is imparted to said members.

9.. A match-lighter composed of a slide adapted to hold a box of matchesand provided with an opening on one side to expose the striking-surfaceof said box, a casing in which said slide is movable, and a match-holderon said casing in. operative relation to said opening,

8. A match-lighter composed of a slide open at one end to receive a boxof matches and also open on two opposite sides and an intermediate sidefor manipulation of the box and exposure of its strikingsurface,

and a casing for said slide having a matchholder in operative relationto the intermediate side opening.

4. A match-lighter composed of a slide open at its front end to. receivea box of matches, and also open at one side to-ex-,

pose the striking-surface, a box-slide displacer at the rear end of saidslide adapted to enter one end of the box cover, a casinginclosing saidslide, and a match-holder on said casing in operative relation to the.open side of said slide. 7

5. A match lighter comprising a V slide 'adapted to contain matches andalso adapted to present a striking-surface, a casing inclosing saidslide and open at both ends, and a match-holder on the casing adapted toposition a match longitudinallybetween said casing and slide, inoperative relation to said striking surface.

6. A match-lighter comprising two members mounted for relative movementand adapted to strike a match by such movement, one of said membersbeing-adapted to contain matches and also adapted to present astriking-surface, a match-holder on the other member, and means operatedby the relative movement of said members for imparting amatch-deflecting movement to said holder.

.operated by the withdrawal of the slideto deflect the match head towardthe middle of the casing.

8. A matchlighter comprising two members mounted for relative movement,one of said members having a match-holder movable, bythe relativemovements of the mem bers, in a direction transverse to said movements,and the other having means for supporting a striking-surface.

9. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a

match-holder thereon yieldingly impelled toward the middle of thecasing, and a slide mounted for movement insaid casing and having meansforsupporting a striking-surface adapted to ignite the match head whenthe slide is withdrawn, said slide, when pushed into the casing, actingto move said match-holder toward the wall of the casing.

10. A match-lighter comprising a casing,

a spring plate flexibly connected. thereto and having. a match-holder,and a'slide mounted 'insaid casing and adapted to operate said springplate. Y

11. A matchdighter comprising a casing,

a spring plate flexibly connected thereto and having match-holder, and aslide which releases said spring plate on being withdrawn from thecasing and flattens it against the casing when pushed into the latter.

12. A match-lighter comprising a slide adapted to hold a box of matchesand having an opening to expose the striking-surface on said box, acasing movable on said slide, and a match-holder onsaid casing adaptedto position a match in operative relation to said striking-surface, saidholder being operated by. the withdrawal of the slide to deflect thematch head toward the middle of the casing. L 13. A match-lightercomprising a casing,

a slide mounted therein, a match-holder on said casing automaticallymoved toward the middle of the casing when said slide is withdrawn, andmeans actuated by such movement of the holder for rockin the match inthe holder to deflect its heac.

let. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a slide mounted therein, amatch-holder on said casing automatically moved toward the middle of thecasing by the withdrawal of said slide, and an abutment on the casinadapted to be encountered b the outer end of the match stem to rock t ematch in its holder and deflect its head toward the mid dle of thecasing.

15. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a match-holder thereoncomprising two parts adapted to engage the match stem between them andmounted for relative yielding movement, and a slide in said casingcontrolling said match-holder and adapted to present to the match-head astriking sur face independent of the holder, for igniting saidmatch-head when the slide is withdrawn.

16. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a match-holder thereonyieldingly impelled toward the middle of the casing and including aspring member adapted to engage one tsolside 0f the match stem, anabutment on the casing adapted to engage the opposite side of the matchstem to rock the match and deflect its head, and a slide in said casingadapted to operate said match-holder.

i351 17. A match-lighter comprising a casing,

40Iwith respect thereto, and adapted when a match-holder thereoncomposed of two members adapted to engage the match stem between them,and a slide in said casing capable of being drawn out and pushed inpushed in to open said match-holder.

18. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a spring plate flexiblyconnected thereto and having a match-holding spring and anothermatch-holding member cooperating with said spring, and a slide adaptedwhen pushed into said casing to retract said spring plate and saidmatch-holding spring.

19. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a spring plate flexiblyconnected thereto and having a match-holder, and a slide in said casinghaving a cam member adapted to retract said spring plate when the slideis pushed in.

20. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a spring plate flexiblyconnected thereto and having a match-holder, an auxiliary spring toproject said plate, a slide mounted in said casing, and cam members onsaid slide adapted to retract said spring plate and saidauxiliary springwhen the slide is pushed in.

21. A match-lighter comprising a casing having a match-holder, a slidemounted in said casing and having means for supporting astriking-surface, said slide also having means for opening thematch-holder when the slide is 'pushed'in, and a stop to limit theinserting movement of the match when the latter is being positioned insaid holder.

22. A match-lighter comprising a casing, a slide therein having meansfor supporting a striking-surface, a spring plate flexibly connected tosaid casing and havingamatchholder and a member forming a stop for thematch head, an auxiliary spring abutting against said member, and cammembers on said slide adapted to retract said spring plate and saidauxiliary spring when the slide is pushed in.

23. A match-lighter comprising a casing composed of relatively-movablemembers adaptedto be opened to form a wind-shield, one of said membershaving a striker and the other having a match-holder, and means operatedby the opening movement of said members, for causing the match-holder todeflect the match head toward the middle of the casing.

24. A matchlighter comprising a slide, and a casing movable thereon andadapted to form a combustion-chamber when the slide is withdrawn, saidcasing having means forming a ventilating passage which liessubstantially parallel to the combustion-chamber and is provided withseparate inlet and outlet portions at the same end of the casing.

25. A match-lighter comprising a slide, a casing movable thereon andadapted to form a combustion-chamber when the slide is withdrawn, and aplate automatically projected toward the middle of said casing when theslide is withdrawn and forming a venti- 'lating passage for saidcombustion-chamber.

26. A match-lighter comprising a slide, a casing movable thereon andadapted to form a combustion-chamber when the slide is withdrawn, and aspring plate flexibly connected to said casing and yieldingly projectedto form a ventilating passage when the slide is withdrawn.

27. A match-lighter comprising a slide, a casing movable thereon andadapted to form a combustion-chamber, and a pair of plates which movetoward the middle of the casing when the slide is withdrawn to form twoside inlet passages and a middle outlet passage for saidcombustion-chamber.

28. A match-lighter comprising a slide having means for supporting astrikingsurface, a casing movable on said slide and having amatclrholder adapted to position a match in operative relation to saidsurface, said casing forming a combustion-chamber when the slide iswithdrawn, and means for ventilating said chamber.

29. A match-lighter comprising a slide having means for supporting astriking-surface, a casing having a match-holder opera-' tively relatedto said surface, and a movable plate operated by the withdrawal of theslide for forming a ventilating passage.

80. A match-lighter comprising a slide having means for supporting astriking-surface, a casing movable on said slide and adapted to form acombustion-chamber when the slide is withdrawn and a movable plate onsaid casing having a match-holder in operative relation to said strikingsurface, said plate being operated by the withdrawal of the slide andadapted toform a ventilating passage for said combustion-chamber.

31. A match-lighter comprising a slide having means for supporting astriking-surface, and a casing movable on said slide and having a matchholder yieldingly projected toward the middle of the casing when theslide is withdrawn, said casing having means positioned by thewithdrawal of the slide for forming a ventilating passage.

32. A match-lighter comprising a slide having means for supporting astriking-surface, and a casing having a match-holder operated bythewithdrawal of said Slide to deflect the match head toward the middle ofthe casing, said casing having means positioned by the withdrawal of theslide for forming a ventilating passage.

38. A match-lighter comprising a slide having means for supporting astriking-surface, a casing movable on said slide and forming acombustion-chamber when the slide is withdrawn, spring plates flexiblyconnected to opposite sides of said casing and adapted to move towardeach other to form ventilating passages when the slide iswithdrawn, amatch-holder carried by one of said plates in operative relation to saidstriking surface, and an abutment on the casing adapted to engage theouter end of the match stem forrockingthe match in its holder to deflectthe match head into the combustionchamber.

34. A match-lighter comprising a slide, a casing movable thereon andadapted to form a conrbustion-chamber when the slide is withdrawn, andtwo plates having a sliding connection and adapted to form a ventilatingpassage for said combustion-chamber.

35. A match-lighter comprising a casing having a match-holder, a slidehaving means for supporting a striking-surface in operative relation tothe atch positioned in said holder, a spring plate flexibly connected tothe opposite side of said casing from said match-holder and adapted tobe projected by the withdrawal of the slide to form a ventilatingpassage, and a shield-plate having sliding trunnion connections withsaid slide and ventilating plate and located opposite the position ofthe match head when the slide is withdrawn.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of February, 1912.

RICHARD P. HART. THOMAS W. KIRKMAN.

Witnesses:

R. M. PIERSON, EDWARD E. BLACK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner or Iatents,

, Washington, D. G.

